When You Step In It, You Have To Clean It Up...And It's Obvious That You Have

http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/307974


http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2012/feb/29/house-will-not-take-up-ultrasound-abortion-bill-to-ar-1729686/


Politicians and public figures will at one point of another end up on the wrong side of an issue.  It happens, and is part of the deal.  That does not keep the rest of us from watching as they try to spin things, and weave a web to cover their tracks.  Thankfully we have people who pay enough attention to notice the little things they try to do.  It would be easier if they simply admit they were wrong, and move on. It causes less bad press, and end the end makes you look better in the long run.  As easy (and commendable) as it may be, it would eliminate all the fun for the rest of us. The following are but two recent examples of public figures covering their tracks post-scandle.


Embattled Franklin County (VA) Public School Superintendent Charlie Lackey had a private school bard meeting called on his behalf on Thursday over the recent investigation into his spending on the school board credit card.  The facts and figures in the article linked above are great for showing just how guilty Lackey is.  Before any of the three investigations, Lackey spent money like it was not his..because it really was not his.  A doughnut here, a airline ticket there, using the county's car everywhere added up, but Lackey did not mind.  Now, Lackey is posing a model spend-thrift who has nothing but the system's welfare in mind.  His actions make it painfully obvious that he was caught with his hand in the cookie jar.  So now, rather than having a Superintendent lauded for being honest in the face of scandal, Franklin County is faced with bad press, a faking leader, and a budget that is in the pits


Our second example comes from the hallowed grounds of Richmond via the sanctified landscapes of Lynchburg.  State Delegate Kathy J. Byron has been in the news of late for her controversial bill that would require all Virginians seeking an abortion to see an ultrasound image of the child about to be aborted.  Byron has since lessened her stance on the matter but not before having caused a good deal of bad press for herself.  Media outlets ranging from the Richmond Times-Dispatch to Jon Stewart have commented on Byron's blatant misunderstanding of a woman's rights, so now the spin starts.  Recently Byron sent out letters to all students who made the Honor Roll at their schools within a 100 mile radius.  Students received letters from as far away as Roanoke and Richmond.  This is a massive mailing list considering Delegate Bryon's district is limited to Campbell and Bedford Counties (both in Virginia).  Seems to me that these form letters had less to do with congratulating the recipient for making the Honor Roll, and more about appearing to be involved in the education of the Commonwealth's youth.  


Perhaps Lackey and Bryon should coalesce and share notes, maybe they already have.  Either way they have shown just how guilty they really are by taking drastic measures to negate the wrong they have done.  Both should have simply stepped up, admitted defeat and moved forward.  By not doing so, they have shown a large deal on contempt towards the informed public (and anyone with an ounce of common sense for that matter), and in the long run hurt the organizations they represent.  Rather than being adults who have assumed the mantel of adulthood (and even more so the responsibility of public office) they have resorted to petty behavior that mirrors a four year old that gets caught.